Shoe-fitting device



Oct. 4, 1927.

R. P. MORSE SHOE FITTING DEQ/ICE original Filed Jan.14. 1921 ssheets-sheet 1.y

oct. 4, 1921. 1,644,075

- R. P. MORSE sHoE FITTING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 14. 1921 5Sheets-Sheet 2 loci. I4, l1927. 1,644,075

- v R. P. MORSE K SHOE FITTING DEVICE original Filed Jar'1.14, 1921 ssheets-sheet 3 @51j @Home Patented Oct. 4, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RAYMOND P. MORSE, F SCARSDALE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO CANTILEVER CORPORATION,

a CORPORATION 'OF NEW; YORK.

SHOiai-Frnrlvcf DEVICE.

Application filed January'lll, 1921, Serial No. 437,185. Renewed August20, 1927.

This invention relates to shoe fitting devices, and has for its objectto provide a device whereby shoes can be more accurately fitted thanwith the devices at present available for this purpose. Y

At present, the common method is to use a length scale, usuallygraduated in sizes instead of inches, and the width being eitherdetermined by guess or by measuring the flat width of the foot. Suchmethods are objectionable because of inaccuracy and possibilities oferror, and also because they vdo not take into consideration either thelength from ball to heel or the varying arch curvature of the foot indifferent persons. The result is that the ball or large joint of manycustomers is not properly fitted, because of inadequate appliances, andthe customer is frequently inclined to kblame the lmaker of the shoe forunsatisfactory results.

I have made an extensive investigation into this subject and have foundthat it is possible to largely eliminate these objections by a properlyconstructed fittingdevice. I have further found that a better fit isobtained by ydetermining the length of the shoe as a function orproportion of the length of the` foot fro'mthe ball to the heel, andthat this measurement of lengthfrom the ball to the heel should followthe surface of the foot so as to take the curvature of the arch intoconsideration, it being well known that there is the widest variation inarch curvature. f

l/Vhile the first essential in properly t-r ting a shoe is to select theproper length of a shoe to locate the ball, the second essential is toprovide `sufficient length in the shoe from ball vvto vtoe toaccommodate the toes, which is also indicated. Thethird essential is todetermine the required width of shoe, which is accomplished by a deviceindicating the actual width of `a shoe of given length required to fitthe foot. Having determined the length of Ishoe required to fit thefoot, the width measuring device indicates by circumferentialmeasurement of the actual foot the correct width Ofshoe re-' quired inthat length for the foot. This gives the width of shoe required for theactual foot in that length of shoe already determined.A j n .Toaccomplish these Objects, I have devised themethod and `apparatusherein-dis:

Figure 2, and

closed wherein the length to be fitted is based upon the distance from`the ball or large joint ofthe foot tothe heel following the surface ofthe foot so as to allow for arch curvature, and the width is subse-'`measurements for given sizes and widths according torecognized tradestandards. t An apparatus of my linvention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings wherein- Figure 1 is a plan View; `Figure 2 is a plan view withthe top-removed; y Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2, j

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line e 4 4 of Figure 2, A

Figure 5 is av section on the line 5-f5 of l .Figure 6 is a detail View.

The device comprises a foot support or.;

base in the form-of a` boX, as 1,having a top plate 2 onwhich is mountedacasting 3 containing recesses 4 forv the largeV j Ointvorl ball of eachfoot.l vThe recesses are formed and shaped to generally fit the ball ofthe foot. Anchored to they casting 3,'as atv6, is a flexible resilientarch conformator 7 which is slidably supported on the heel block 8,sliding under a plate 9. Each arch conformator 7 may carry at its rearend the size scales 10 for mens sizes tand 11 and 12 for womens sizes,the scales 11 and 12 being,for example, for different womens lasts.. Asherein shown, the scale 11 lis for a last of one height 'of heel and thescale 12 vfor another 'last'- of differentvheight, or there may be otherdifferences in these lasts as desired. 13 represents a heel gagecarrying the pointer 14 cooperating with the scales 10, 11, 12, the gage13 being lmounted on a vertical stud 15V carriedby plate 16 sliding onrods 17, the stud 15 working through a slot 18 in the plate 2 andcentral plate-9 as'shown in Figure 1. 19 isa-guide vplate between thetwo heels carried by the heel block 8. The heel block 8v may be made ofsuch height as desired, or may be omitted entirely. v

It will be seen from the foregoing that the arch conformator Twill carrythe scales l0,

11, 12 backward as the foot is pressed thereon, While the ballremamsstationary in the recesses, and the `heel gage 13 is then brought upinto gentle contact with the heel.y .The

plate 16, is connected by link 20, lever V21` )ivoted at 22 and link toa second slidino plate 24, also mounted on the rods 17. The

plate 211- carries a stud 25 Workingthroughslot 2G in the support andcarrying the toe gage plate 27. rhe'toe gage plate 27-'isprovided withgraduations asv shown for lasts corresponding vviththe heel scales 10711, 12. The plate `27 foi-ins determi-ned 'by ythe gage 13, and enablesIthe salesman to be certain that such length willl n'otb'ejtoo short ffor 'the Lfoot being vvittedg as in' rarejcases `it Y may happenthat thelength lett-he foot frein 4ball to toeisftoogr'eatt'or a particularlast' otherwise-'best Vitting the toot. p'lhis toe plate also enablesthe sales# man-tof explain -fto the customer Where -the tee'of, the shoewillcome. lt'willfurther be observedv that'the position length or' thefoot and of the-toe gage is determined las a function or"l thel'engthotithefiiootfrom hall* to heel by reasoiiofy vthe dillerence in `thelengths'of the varms oflever 21. i lVhile this principle of measuringfor shoes is hereinv specifically described with reference lto `firstmeasuring the foot from ball toaheel', the principle could ilee-carriedout 'by measuring the distance from ball to toein-Y specialinstances,but it v-Wo'uld 1 not be .generally desirable because the main partoffthe'to'otjto. be fitted is that itrcnn'v ball'mo heel iviththe archcurvature correction,

Figure lfshoivs the-Width measuring device associatedwith 'the-ballrecesses 4', comprising a strap- 28 with gage QQand a central strapcarrying'one Aoi" more Width scales, as shown-in Figure 1, according todiiierent lasts forinenv and Jfor Women. The strapl 30,

passes'downbetween ythe two ball'recess4 por,-

tions to a 'slideBQ' ontransverseibar '3115 is a lever pivotedgat to thecover vvplate 2' and havingonefl end 'connected'by link 37 with i'slide-16and 1the otherY end 38 vin the path 'of lugy 39 onjslideI 32.kThe arms -ofleverfl' are proportioned so that the'desired ratio ofYmovement is effected, so' that; the lever endl BSvvill' stop strap ,30by cnntact With lug 39 to determine theV proper Widtlr fora given lengthY as determined Y by the-position Y lfftheball measureof a certainfreebie; for;

example, 7 1/2: incheszand'the :size ior length o'flastirequired y is`4,' a- Wide shoe is Vrer quired; but'iliflthe Vsize-or lengthrequired'is 5; an A Wide shoe is needed." Therefore, the.

ball measuring strap is `limited by a positive stop,l.\vhich1 stopV iscontrolled and regulated.

1 by thesanieiapparatus' whichI measures I.the

length. .Inoperationgthe strap'QSfWith gage 29zi ledatonlibefestlandsire139121111@ untilstopped by lug-39, or' until' tight-on a check onthelength asj the foot, and laid over gage 29, giving the propel' Widthfor leach length. 'The' length and r Width thus determinedl correspondto ,the length and width of a standard shoe last.

The lasts uponwhich shoes are made are lengths AVinv vdifferent sizesoi'- -a last 'isfa'y con-V stant; This relationvis represented by thelengtli'sotthe arms of lever 21 in Figure- 2:

rlhereiOre'ir-hen'the heeliplate indicates on the scale theproperlength-to fit the foot tren'rball tolhe'el, thetoeigage will showthe |viosition -oi' the, to'eof thev last indicatingl Whether? tliatsize correct-for ball /to heel measure'mentWilll give suflicientftoeroo-In. f

risuull be seen, zthel device is shown for m asuring both'i iieet,"in`case Ythere isVA a materialdilierencebutthe' single strap 30 is sovarranged relatively to the toe'1 strapQS as to operate. with either.l Ineither case, the ienum-bers are-used'on the drawing for duplicate parts.e v i, Y

1t is believed Ithatithe objects and advanf tages ofithe invention'rvillhe eunderstood' 'i'fromvthe foregoing description and=also thatthe method is applicabletov other specificl forms of"apparatusftlian;'that'herein disclosed, and tl it the apparatusmay bemodi'- ed in various particulars lWithout departing from thescope oi'theappended claims.

What Ifclaimfis 1. Theniethiedof"determining the lengthterniining thelength of a 'foot froin'theball tov thei heel'inchiding"l aA correctionorvtlle curvature' offthevtoot, arch as a'. fractioiroff thetotal lengtli l i 25 The methodol' determiningthey lengthof a slice `tobe htted`Wliicli 'cemprisesde-v terminin-gihe length olfa'foottroin thehalli toonej end ofzthe' 'oot,r including a' correction for; thev curvatureofftheeotarclrasa fraction ofthev total length;

3. Aishoe iittin'g device comprising means for determiningl thelengtli'aota "ojot includa correction for arch'pcurvatureglan means pcontrolledfby the *length* determining means forV determining thevcircumferential Width. l A Y p n l l et 'shoe :iitting `devicecomprising a foot sufpportiiigbase having a recess oizreceivving theball of afoot, a.resilient'larchconfermate? arranedt@ Slidejiearwalifse;cording" to the curvature of the' arch and carrying a scale, and a heelgage movable to contact with the heel and cooperating With said Scale.

in a shoe .tit-ting device the combination with a foot supporting base,oi' a foot length measurin means on the base including longitudinalslidable gage for co-operation with an end of the ifoot, a yielding archcon- 'termator on the base, and a foot length size indicator responsiveto movements ot' said arch. coniormator and said end gage.

A shoe fittingdevice comprising a foot supporting base having a recessfor the ball of a foot, a. yielding arch conformator having its heel endslidable on the base, and carrying a scale, a heel gage sliding on thevbase and cooperating Withv said scale, atoe gage, and means connectedWith said toe gage to move the same Withsaid heel gage.

supporting base having a recess for the ball of a foot, a yielding archconformatoil mounted on and having its heel end slidable on the base,and carrying a scale, a heel.

gage sliding on the base and co-operating with said scale, a toe gage onsaid base,

`means connected With said toe gage to move i. A shoe iitting devicecomprising a footl posite direction, a movable foot Width gage, andmeans controlled by the heel gage for adjusting the Width gage.

8v. In a shoe fitting device, a base to support a foot, a yielding archconformator on said base, and foot length determining means also on saidbase and responsive to the amount of deformation of said conformaterwhen displaced by arch pressure of a foot being measured.

9. lIn a shoe fitting device, a base for supporting two feet side byside, with gage straps on said base, one for each foot, and a Widthmeasuring strap located between said gage straps `and operable witheither gage strap. i i

l0. The method of determining the size of a shoe for a given foot Whichcomprises determining the length of the foot by measurement anddetermining the circumferential Width of the foot as a function of saiddetermined length including arch curvature of the foot.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 8th day of January, A. D. 1921.

RAYMoND P. MORSE.

